Tin Can is building a safer, simpler way for kids to connect — without smartphones. We're creating screen-free, delightful devices and services that let families call the people who matter most, free from the noise of today's digital world.
We're building a bold, authentic, nostalgic, and kinda quirky brand that resonates with folks who want something simpler & better for their kids than the tech-infused lives we're currently living (and who have a sense of humor about it).
The Role
We're looking for a Principal Product Manager to drive retention: getting families off to a great start with Tin Can and keeping kids calling the people who matter, week after week. Engagement is one of the highest-leverage product problems we have, and right now no one owns it full-time.
This role spans more of the product than most PM jobs: the app, calling, voicemail, accessories, and onboarding. Driving connection might mean improving the app one week, rethinking how voicemail works, or proposing a new accessory the next. You'll own strategy for the core experience from day one, and you'll own the work end to end — building the backlog, shipping, and learning from what ships to decide what's next. The best decision for Tin Can always comes first, but you'll also keep an eye on how each one builds toward the ecosystem we're building. You'll partner closely with the Head of Product, the founding team, engineering, brand, and marketing. This is a hands-on role for someone who cares deeply about user experience, knows how to balance rigor with momentum, and is kooky (like we are).
What You'll DoOwn the strategy for the core Tin Can experience, with an eye on how each decision builds toward the ecosystem
Find the highest-leverage ways to drive consistent calling — the rituals that keep families coming back — and go make them happen
Turn broad goals into clear hypotheses and a focused product backlog
Do whatever the problem needs: write the test plan and run it yourself, draft the in-app and email copy, work with engineering to spec the fix
Design and ship product that builds durable calling rituals in partnership with engineering
Sweat the first-run and week-one experience, the moments that make Tin Can stick
Design and build instrumentation to see whether you’re moving the needle
Run experiments, synthesize learnings, and decide what to scale, iterate on, or stop
Collaborate with leadership to align your work with overall product strategy and values
10+ years of product management experience, including ownership of complex, ambiguous problem spaces
A track record of moving retention or engagement metrics, not just shipping features
Strong product instincts paired with analytical rigor and comfort with data
Fluency using AI as a multiplier across discovery, prototyping, and analysis — this is how we work, not a nice-to-have
Excellent judgment around user trust, quality, and long-term tradeoffs, especially building for kids and the parents who trust us
Ability to set direction and move work forward with little oversight
Clear communication and the ability to tell a compelling story about what you're learning and why it matters
Hands-on and scrappy approach; you'd rather write the copy or dig into the bug yourself than wait on someone else
Low-ego and collaborative vibes; you share credit and pitch in on problems that aren't yours
We're building tech that protects childhood: We're on a quest to give kids a more analog childhood — one with real conversations, real connection, and way less screen time. This is a rare opportunity to build something that truly matters.
You'll own how we get there: Retention is one of our most important bets, and you'll drive it — building the backlog, running real experiments, and setting strategy alongside the Head of Product. You'll see your work change how families use Tin Can, and you'll own where it goes from here.
Small, high-trust team: Every company says "team," but at Tin Can it means something different. We're a small, mission-driven group that genuinely has each other's backs — professionally and personally. You'll be joining a tight-knit crew where your ideas and instincts matter from day one.
Room to explore, not just execute: You'll have the space to explore new ideas, challenge assumptions, and shape a product experience that reflects our values of trust, simplicity, and care.
If you're excited by the idea of taking a product families already love and making it something they can't imagine living without, please reach out. We can't wait to meet someone who's ready to jump in, own a goal that matters, and help us grow.
Skills Required
- 10+ years of product management experience
- Experience owning complex, ambiguous problem spaces
- Track record of improving retention or engagement metrics
- Strong product judgment and analytical rigor
- Comfort working with data
- Fluency using AI for discovery, prototyping, and analysis
- Sound judgment regarding user trust, product quality, and long-term tradeoffs
- Ability to set direction and work independently with little oversight
- Excellent communication and storytelling skills
- Hands-on, scrappy approach to product work
- Collaborative, low-ego working style
What We Do
Tin Can is a screen-free phone for kids that gives them the independence to call friends and family—without giving them a smartphone. Built like a modern landline, Tin Can connects over Wi-Fi and uses a simple mobile app for parents to control who can call in and out. There’s no browser, no app store, no camera, no spam—just voice. It’s a safer, saner way for kids to communicate and gain a bit of freedom without the baggage of adult tech. We believe that real connection doesn’t require a screen. And that childhood is better when it’s full of imagination, not notifications. Tin Can started in one neighborhood in Seattle, where we hand-installed 40 early prototypes and watched them spread by word of mouth. Now, Tin Can is being used by kids in over 30 states—with no marketing, no paid ads, just families telling other families. We’re growing fast, and so is the movement of parents looking for a better way to let their kids be independent, without handing over the internet in their pocket. Our newest Tin Can is fully custom hardware, designed from the ground up to be beautifully simple. It works out of the box, connects through our app, and comes with smart features like emergency calling, quiet hours, and a free Can2Can plan that lets any two Tin Cans call each other with no subscription required. Tin Can is built for the 4–13 age range—when kids are old enough to want a phone, but not quite old enough to manage one. We’re on a mission to bring back the freedom of the old-school landline, updated for today’s families.
